Looking for something fun and rewarding to do with the kids this fall? You might want to consider volunteering at the Humane Society of Central Oregon in Bend. There are many ways to get involved, with just about any level of commitment that works for you.
One of the HSCO’s most popular programs for kids is “Tales for Tails,” tailored for youth ages nine to 16. It’s an easy, no-judgment way for kids to practice reading aloud while enjoying the company of a gentle animal.
“Tales for Tails is really ideal for younger kids—but it’s also appropriate for older kids, up to age 16,” says Kristin Hymer-Heath, HSCO’s volunteer and projects manager. “The younger ones come in for an hour with a parent a couple of times a month, or more often if they want. It’s a great opportunity for them to practice reading aloud.”
“It’s also an opportunity for enrichment for the animals, which is very valuable to them,” she adds. “We’re usually seeing them for the different types of care they need, so they’re expecting to be handled. The kids, on the other hand, are hands-off, letting the animals come to them. Sometimes a cat will curl up on their lap.”
Volunteers can also work behind the scenes. “Some people come in specifically to do laundry or data entry. We even sometimes create positions—we have a natural healer who comes in and does Reiki with the dogs,” says volunteer coordinator, Sam Ridden.
Most volunteer positions ask for a minimum commitment of weekly two-hour shifts over a six-month period, but some opportunities are more flexible. “If you want to be more on-call, for example, we might say hey, we have a handyman project, are you able to come in sometime this week?” says Hymer-Heath. “We might email a couple of people who have offered to help with that, and they can pass. They don’t have to be here a certain amount of time each week,” adds Ridden.
One way to contribute without a regular time commitment is by creating an individual event or project, like a donation drive, fundraiser or classroom presentation. “(Groups or individuals) can do a bake sale, fundraiser or an educational project during the school year—come in, interview us and take pictures and find out more about the shelter, then do a presentation to their class,” Ridden offers. Special packets are available at the shelter with suggestions and guidelines for elementary or middle school student projects.
Hymer-Heath says perhaps the greatest need at the shelter right now is what they call Potty Patrol—taking the animals outside periodically for quick potty breaks. “These volunteers are at the highest level of dog handling,” she explains. “Potty Patrol volunteers have gone through all the levels of Canine Companion training. Green level, or easy dogs, know some commands and are not likely to jump up or give you too much trouble. Blue dogs are a little bigger and stronger and might want to jump up on you,” she says. “Orange dogs have absolutely no training and can be a little bit nutty. They need somebody who can handle a leash and who can offer a little training.”
One reason why the Potty Patrol is such an urgent need is that it’s a bit of a process for new volunteers to get to that top, “orange” level. Every canine companion must start with a “green” dog and work their way up as their comfort and skill level allows.
“It takes a lot of time because it takes a really experienced canine companion to be able to take absolutely any dog, including the strays that may or may not have been evaluated behaviorally—so somebody who is confident and experienced with animals,” she continues. “No matter what your experience level is, we start every canine companion at the green level, so they can get familiar with the shelter. Then when they’ve completed 20 hours they can move on to blue, and so on. It’s really neat that there’s that opportunity to grow. I think the volunteers really like that because they’re learning something.”
Another important area where volunteers are needed is outside the shelter at the Humane Society Thrift Shop, located on Southeast Third Street in Bend. Store proceeds provide roughly 40 to 50 percent of the organization’s funding each year. Volunteers are always needed to help take in donations, sort and price items, and display them on the sales floor. It’s an easy entry point for getting involved, Hymer-Heath says. “A lot of people who want to be a part of the organization might have a skill set that works better over there.”
Volunteering in any capacity with the Humane Society can be fun and rewarding. Besides the gratification of contributing to the goal of providing homes for stray or abandoned animals, there is a spirit of camaraderie and teamwork that makes the work light.
Find more information about ways to volunteer at the Humane Society website, hsco.org/volunteering. Categories include canine companions, feline friends, front desk and adoption support operations, shelter maintenance and veterinary clinical assistance, in addition to positions at the thrift store.
This article appears in BendNest Fall 2025.
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